Petronas staff take 102 orphans on shopping spree

BINTULU: The national oil company, Petronas, spreads joy to 102 underprivileged children here Wednesday by taking them on a shopping spree around town. More than 100 Petronas staff working with Malaysia LNG (MLNG) and Asean Bintulu Fertilizer (ABF) adopted the orphans including those from Bintulu Peryatim Complex for a day. The children, six to 17 years old, were brought on a shopping spree by their respective foster parents to fulfil their wish lists for the upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfi tri. After that, the foster parents brought the children home to freshen them up and dress them in new Raya outfi ts before taking them for the breaking of fast at the Bintulu Peryatim Complex. During the dinner, ABF managing director and chief executive officer, Zainol Mohd Zin, handed over contributions for the refurbishment of the library at the orphanage. The children were also given some ‘duit raya’ at the dinner. One of the Petronas staff, Abigail Aren, who signed up for the adoption programme, said she would take at least two underprivileged children with her for a shopping spree during each Ramadan. She said she would buy them their favourite toys, sweets, school bags, uniforms, pen and pencils before taking them for the break of fast. The ‘Petronas Sentuhan Kasih’ programme is the norm among hundreds of Petronas staff like Abigail to spread love and joy of Ramadan to the less fortunate children in Bintulu. “It feels really good to do your bit for the less fortunate and to bring smiles and joy to them at this time of the year,” said another Petronas staff, Rhymie Rashidie Ibrahim, from MLNG. This year is the fi fth year Abigail is participating in the meaningful It feels really good to do your bit for the less fortunate and to bring smiles and joy to them at this time of the year. Rhymie Rashidie Ibrahim, Petronas staff programme and the eighth year for Rhymie. The programme, which started in 2005, is meant to reach out to the less fortunate segment of the community where Petronas operates. Since its inception, the ‘Sentuhan Kasih’ programme has been wellreceived by Petronas staff and the community alike, prompting it to become an annual affair by 2006. It is replicated during Chinese New Year, Christmas, Deepavali, Gawai and Tadau Kaamaatan.